Apparatus for inspecting tubular goods having guide members to fix a detector in the center of the tubular goods

Claim 1

Apparatus adapted for inspecting an elongated tubular member and comprising: conveyor means adapted for axially translating an elongated tubular member along a generally horizontal longitudinal axis; radiation-detecting means including a radiation detector mounted generally along said axis and adapted for insertion into a tubular member being advanced along said conveyor means toward said radiation detector to receive radiation directed theretoward; radiation-emitting means including a body adapted for rotation about said axis and having a passage therein directed inwardly toward said radiation detector, a radiation source operatively arranged on said rotatable body in relation to said passage for directing a beam of radiation inwardly there through toward said radiation detector, and means operatively arranged for rotating said rotatable body about said axis to progressively sweep said beam of radiation around said radiation detector; and means adapted for guiding said radiation detector into a tubular member advanced theretoward and retaining said radiation detector coaxially positioned therein including a housing having a tubular intermediate portion enclosing said radiation detector and a forward portion having a tapered nose with a lower inclined surface adapted to slide into the forward end of an advancing tubular member and a faired upper surface reducing the crosssection of said forward portion in relation to the cross-section of said intermediate portion, and a plurality of depending rigid guide members dependently secured along the bottom surface of said housing to the rear of said tapered nose, said guide members being angularly spaced uniformly in relation to one another and having a height selected for coaxially positioning said radiation detector within a tubular member when said guide members are in sliding contact with the internal wall of the tubular member.